Buffing apparatus



Jan. 26, 1960 D. AT KINS BUFFING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1957 United States Patent BUFFING APPARATUS David Atkins, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Buff Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 1957, Serial No. 678,706

11 Claims. (Cl. 51-193) This invention relates to bufling apparatus and more particularly to an improved assembly of buffing wheel sections and an improved supporting member therefor.

The use of centerless buffing and polishing wheels is Well known in the prior art. For example, in' Patent No. 2,599,785, issued to Ben P. Sax on June 10, 1952, an assembly of buffing wheel sections is illustrated in which each section is a centerless fabric annulus mount-. ed on a metal ring and a plurality of such centerless wheels are clamped together between end bells to form a complete assembly. f 1

While such centerless assemblies have many. advantages over theprior art, the invention disclosed herein provides further advantages thereover. The centerless construction conserves buffing cloth in that only an annulus of fabric capable of providing a useful working surface is employed. Furthermore, improved ventilation is provided in the centerless. buff in that air freely circulates in the central space and fiows outwardly through air spaces in the metal supporting rings and thus into the various interstices between the individual layers of buffing material. 7 F

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved centerless buffing assembly having enhanced strength and rigidity.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved buffing assembly which may be formed with substantially unlimited length while maintaining optimum strength and rigidity.

It is stillanother object of this invention to provide an improved centerless buffing assembly wherein forced ventilation of the buifing material is provided.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved buffingjassembly and a support therefor where in assembly and disassembly of the various parts are greatly expedited.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a bufiing assembly of reduced cost resulting from increased efiiciency in the replacement of buffing sections, cooler operation, and conservation of material.

Further and additional objects of this invention will become manifest from a consideration of this specifica tion, the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

In one form of this invention a bufiing wheel assembly is provided comprising a plurality of individual buffing wheel sections assembled in aligned interlocking relationship on an improved supporting hub which includes a pair of telescopically assembled relatively small tubular members having apertured end bells and radial fins adapted t9 support the assembly of buffing sections.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a sectional view of a bufiing assembly incor- 70 porating the novel featuresof this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

described in detail.

Fig. 3 is a reduced perspective view of the supporting hub forming a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 a bufiing wheel assembly incorporating the novel features of this invention is illustrated. The assembly includes a plurality of buffing wheel sections 12 assembled in aligned interlocking relationship-on a supporting hub 14 which is in turn supported on a driving spindle 16. Each buff section comprises a plurality of fabric annuluses .18 disposed in overlying relationship and extending outwardly from a central metallic ring 20 to a work-engaging periphery 21.

In the particular bufiing section disclosed in the illustrated embodiment the fabric annuluses 18 are formed by rolling a cylinder of fabric and drawing a central circumference of the cylinder inwardly to the diameter of metal-ring 20 whereby the outwardly flaredend's of the cylinder form the fabric annuluses. Such a construction is well known in the prior art and will not be To provide better clamping of the inner periphery of the section in the metal ring 20, wires 22 may be passed in locking relationship through the fabric. Also to hold the sections in a desired shape, stitching 24 may be provided.

The clamping ring 20 is best illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein it can be seen that the ring comprises a cylindrical base 26 With-a plurality of outwardly extending fingers 28. Each radial finger 28 has a pointed end portion 30 which is turned inwardly to define a cylindrical pattern of locking points which engage the buff fabric. This locking engagement is shown best in Fig. 1.

An inner cylindrical plate 32 is secured to ring 20 and has a plurality of offset tabs 34 to fit along the inner surface of an adjacent metal ring and support an adjacent buff section in aligned relationship. A'similar construction is illustrated and described in the Sax Patent No. 2,599,785. V 7' The cut-out portions between ring fingers 28 are so selected and shaped that they extend into .the cylindrical base portion 26 of ring 20. Thereby, small recesses 36 are formed in the cylindrical inner surface of'the bufiing section to provide egress of air within the central cavity. Thus any number of individual bufiing sections may be assembled in aligned side by side relationship to form a long cylindrical buffing surface 21 Whilemaintaining ventilating openings therebetween,

In accordance with this invention the. supporting hu 14 is adapted to rigidly maintain the cylindrical relationship of .the buffing sections while providing greatly enhanced ventilation and simplified assembly. The supporting hub 14 comprises an inner tubular member. 40 having an end bell 42 secured thereto and an outer tubular member 44 telescopicallydisposed about tubular member 40 and having an end bell 46. End bells 42 and 46 are metal castings in the preferred embodiment, as best shown in Fig. 3, and are appropriately secured to the tubular members by welding orthe like. Each end bell has a circumferential shoulder 48 to receive the end buff sections 12a and an outwardly extending flange 50 to engage the outer face of the end section ring. Theend bells 42 and 46 havev large apertures 52 therein which are of substantial size to proovide ingress of air into the central cavity of the hub.

The tubular members 40 and 44 should be in sliding relationship with a modicum of frictional resistance to arbitrary movement. If required, frictional means such as a spring clip or the like may be provided between the tubular members. Extending outwardly from the outer surface of the tubular members are a plurality of spacer fins 54. The spacer fins 54 are secured to the tubular members by any convenient means such as weld fillets 56 and extend outwardly whereby their outer edges define a cylindrical buff supporting surface which includes the circumferential shoulders 48 of the "end bells 42 and 46. Thus, the individual buffing sections 12 are rigidly supported in aligned cylindrical relationship and can withstand substantial radial forces without distortion of that cylindrical relationship.

It is contemplated that the particular hub support employed will have a minimum length, when collapsed, slightly less than the required length of the assembly, whereby the buffing sections 12 when initially disposed upon the spacer fins 54 will extend only slightly beyond the over-all length of the larger tubular member 44. It is contemplated that the end bells 42' and 46 will then be drawn together by appropriate means to compress the buffing sections into an integrated assembly. This is accomplished in the described embodiment by providing the rotatable spindle 16 with a reduced end portion 58 on which the buffing assembly is received. The terminal portion 60 of reduced portion 58 is threaded to receive a large nut 62. Thus the buffing assembly is compress d between the shoulder 64 defined by reduced portion 58 and nut 62.

Other appropriate means for supporting the buffing assembly and compressing the sections to form an integrated unit will appear to those skilled in this art.

In the event that a more versatile supporting hub 14 is desired which will be capable of accommodating assemblies of bufiing sections of various lengths, supplementary fins may be secured to the inner tubular member 40. These may be disposed in circumferentially spaced partially overlying relationship with fins 54 by providing slots in outer tubular member 44 which will receive the supplementary fins. Such an expedient is not contemplated for the normal extension required under usual conditions. However, whenever substantial variations in the length of the assembly are contemplated, such a construction may prove advantageous.

Air contained within the central cavity in the buffing assembly is urged by centrifugal force outwardly through recesses 36 into the interstices of the buffing fabric. Such air movement provides important and improved ventilation of the buff. The air which is thus centrifuged is replaced by fresh air drawn axially inwardly through the apertures 52 of end bells 42 and 46. 7

While one particular embodiment of this invention has been described in detail it will be immediately apparent that various modifications may be incorporated without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

For example, while four substantially planar fins 54 are disposed in quadrature about the outer tubular member 44, it will be apparent that any number of fins of any desired shape might be employed. It is, however, believed essential that the spacing means be uniformly disposed about the axis of the buffing assembly so that dynamic balance is produced. The bufiing assemblyturns at extremelyhigh speeds, and thus dynamic balance is of substantial importance.

Also While one particular type of buffing section is illustrated it will be immediately apparent that other buffing sections of either a finger construction or any other well known construction and formed of any well known material may be employed interchangeably with this invention.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, While retainmg certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hub for mounting a plurality of buffing sections on a spindle comprising first tubular means adapted to be slipped in coaxial relation over said spindle, first annular clamping means secured to one end of said first tubular means, second tubular means telescopically disposed in slip-fitting engagement over said first tubular 'means, second annular clamping means secured to one end of said second tubular means, a plurality of uniform fin-like means disposed on the periphery of said tubular means and radially extending therefrom, such buffing sections being mountable on the edge surfaces of said fin-like means and compressed between said clamping disc means.

2. A hub for mounting a plurality of bufiing sections on a spindle comprising two tubular means in slip-fitting telescoping relationship, annular clamping means extending radially from one end of each of said tubular means, a plurality of fin means disposed on the periphery of said tubular means, the distal edges of said fins being disposed equidistantly from the central longitudinal axis of said two tubular means, such buffing sections to be utilized with said hub mounting being supported on said distal edges and clamped between said annular clamping.

3. A hub for mounting a plurality of annular buffing sections on a spindle comprising two telescopic tubular members in slip-fitting relationship, opposed annular clamping means atfixed to one end of each of said tubular members and discrete spacer means extending outwardly from the outer surface of the outermost tubular member and uniformly arranged about the periphery of the outermost tubular member whereby such bufiing sections are mounted on said spacer means, said buffing seo tions being uniformly disposed about the central longitudinal axis of said tubular members.

4. A hub for mounting a plurality of annular bufiing sections on a spindle comprising two telescopic tubular members in slip-fitting relationship to be mounted on such spindle, opposed apertured annular clamping means affixed to one end of each of said tubular members, discrete radial spacer means extending outwardly from the outer surface of the outermost tubular member and uniformly arranged about the periphery of at least one of said tubular members whereby such bufling sections may be mounted on said spacer means and have the outer buffing peripheries thereof uniformly disposed about said tubular members central longitudinal axis; and means to engage said clamping means to force said buffing sections disposed intermediate thereof together as a unit, the apertures in said disc means comprising air inlets whereby air may enter between and circulate about said discrete radial spacer means.

5. A butfing wheel assembly for mounting on a spindle having a reduced portion comprising two telescopic tubular members in slip-fitting engagement, the reduced portion of such rotatable spindle means being disposed in the tubular member of lesser diameter, annular clamping means atfixed to one end of each of said tubular members, .each of said annular clamping means being ,centrally apertured whereby said spindle means may traverse the same and having additional apertures radially spaced therefrom, discrete radial spacer means disposed on the periphery of at least one of said tubular members and having edges lying in a cylindrical surface substantially larger than said tubular members, and annular buffing wheels mounted on said spacer means and compressed between said clamping means; said spacer means, the inner periphery of said buffing elements, and the larger tubular member defining longitudinal air passageways, the additional apertures of said annular clamping means communicating with said passageways.

6. A bufiing wheel assembly for mounting on a spindle having a reduced portion comprising two telescopic tubular members in slip-fitting engagement, the reduced portion of such rotatable spindle means being disposed in the tubular member of lesser diameter, annular clamping means affixed to one end of each of said tubular members, each of said annular clamping means being centrally ape'rtured whereby said spindle means may traverse the same and having additional apertures radially spaced therefrom, discrete radial spacer means disposed on the periphery of'at least one of said tubular members and having edges lying in a cylindrical surface substantially larger than said tubular members, annular bufling wheels mounted, on said spacer means and compressed between said clamping means, said spacer means, the inner periphery of said bufiing elements, and the larger tubular member defining longitudinal air passageways, the additional apertures of said annular clamping means communicating with said passageways, and means lockingly engaging said spindle means adjacent said reduced portion and bearing against the exterior face of one of said clamping means whereby the butfing wheels disposed between said clamping means are compressed and securely locked in place.

7. A bufling wheel assembly comprising two telescopic tubular members in slip-fitting relationship, a plurality of discrete radial spacer means secured to and extending outwardly from the periphery of at least one of said tubular members, rotatable spindle means disposed in said tubular members whereby said tubular members may be rotated thereby, a plurality of bufling annuluses in interlocking relationship mounted on said discrete radial spacer means, whereby the smaller circumference of said annuluses is spaced equidistantly'from the periphery of said tubular members, clamping means disposed at opposed ends of said telescopic members engaging opposed end bufiing annuluses and locking means forcing said clamping means to compress the buffing annuluses disposed therebetween together.

8. A hub mounting for a plurality of annular buffing sections comprising two telescopic tubular members engaging each other in a slip-fitting relationship and spaced apart from said bufling sections, opposed clamping means afiixed to one end limit of each of said tubular members, I

and discrete radial spacer means secured to the outer periphery of at least one of said tubular members, such buffing sections comprising interlocking annuluses which define an integral buifing section assembly, said assembly being snugly disposed on said spacer means, said latter assembly comprising a length exceeding the minimum length of said telescoped tubular members whereby the opposed ends of said bufling section assembly are engaged by said opposed clamping means, and means forcing said opposed clamping means together.

9. A hub mounting for a plurality of interlocked annular buffing sections comprising two telescopic tubular members engaged in a slip-fitting relationship and spaced apart from said bufiing sections, annular clamping means afiixed to one end of each of said tubular members, each of said clamping means having a projecting annular shoulder of reduced diameter adapted to engage and support in interlocking relationship the inner periphery of such interlocked bufling sections, radial spacer fins positioned between said tubular members and said inner periphery of such interlocked bufling sections and uniformly disposed on the outer periphery of said tubular members to engage said annular buffing sections and support the same, said buffing sections being compressed between said annular clamping means.

10. The buffing wheel assembly as recited in claim 9 in which said fins are of uniform composition and uniform dimensions and equispaced about the periphery of said tubular members.

11. A buffing assembly comprising two telescoped members engaged in slip-fitting relationship, substantially planar spacing members disposed about the axis of and extending radially from the periphery of the outer telescoped member, interlocked bufiing sections mounted on said spacing members and spaced apart from said telescoped members by said spacing members, and a clamping member on the outer end of each telesccped member adjustably positioned against said bufling sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,747 Levoy Nov. 15, 1938 2,140,208 Murray Dec. 13, 1938 2,198,282. Hall Apr. 23, 1940 2, 2, 0 ax et al-v Jan, 1 1 2 

